Locally advanced basosquamous carcinoma: Our experience with sonidegib

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Anal and rectal locally advanced basal cell carcinoma treated with sonidegib

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Preparation of hybrid samples for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to focused ion beam (FIB) analysis: A new way to study cell adhesion to titanium implant surfaces.

The study of the intimate connection occurring at the interface between cells and titanium implant surfaces is a major challenge for dental materials scientists. Indeed, several imaging techniques have been developed and optimized in the last decades, but an optimal method has not been described yet. The combination of the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with a focused ion beam (FIB), represents a pioneering and interesting tool to allow the investigation of the relationship occurring at the interface between cells and biomaterials, including titanium. However, major caveats concerning the nature of the biological structures, which are not conductive materials, and the physico-chemical properties of titanium (i.e. color, surface topography), require a fine and accurate preparation of the sample before its imaging. Hence, the aim of the present work is to provide a suitable protocol for cell-titanium sample preparation before imaging by SEM-FIB. The concepts presented in this paper are also transferrable to other fields of biomaterials research

Pilomatrix Carcinoma: Report of Two Cases of the Head and Review of the Literature

Background: Pilomatrix carcinoma (PC) is a rare skin tumor arising from hair follicle matrix cells. It is locally aggressive with a high rate of local recurrence after surgical excision. Few cases in the literature have been described and the management is not well defined. Objectives: The aim of this study was to present two cases of PC located on the head and review the relevant literature about epidemiology, clinical and dermoscopic evaluation, characteristics of local and distant metastases, local recurrence rate and management of this rare skin tumor. Methods: We consulted databases from PubMed, Research Gate and Google Scholar, from January 2012 to November 2022. We reviewed the literature and reported two additional cases. Results: We selected 52 tumors in middle-aged to older patients located mostly on the head. Dermoscopy evaluation was rarely performed in the pre-operative diagnostic setting. The most definitive treatment was wide local excision, but local recurrences were common. In total, we observed 11 cases of recurrences and 9 patients with locoregional or distant metastases. Four patients received adjuvant radiotherapy, two patients needed chemotherapy and local cancer therapy and one patient received radiochemotherapy. Conclusion: Our reports and the review of the literature can provide a better awareness and management of this rare tumor

Breast Cancer-Related Neoplastic Alopecia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Neoplastic alopecia (NA) is defined as an organized hair loss in single or multiple areas of the scalp caused by a primary tumor that has metastasized to the skin of the scalp. Due to its localization and clinical appearance, NA should be placed in differential diagnosis with alopecia areata or other entities. To date, pathognomonic dermoscopic criteria of NA have not yet been described: the absence of classical criteria of other scalp diseases in addition to a major neovascularization with on-focus arborizing vessels and erosions or ulcerations may help the clinician to suspect a diagnosis of secondary alopecia. Dermatologists should pay more attention to these rare forms of secondarism because in exceptional cases, a simple alopecia of the scalp can hide a new, relapsing or metastatic neoplasia

Adalimumab-associated spondylodiscitis: a new or underestimated side effect?

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Entodermoscopy: A Useful Tool for the Diagnosis of Cutaneous Larva Migrans

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A glance on the role of fibronectin in controlling cell response at biomaterial interface.

The bioactivity of biomaterials is closely related to cell response in contact with them. However, shortly after their insertion, materials are soon covered with proteins that constitute the biological fluids, and which render the direct surface recognition by cells almost impossible. The control of protein adsorption at the interface is therefore desirable. Extracellular matrix proteins are of particular interest in this sense, due to their well-known ability to modulate cell behavior. Particularly, fibronectin plays a leading role, being present in both healthy and injured tissues undergoing healing and regeneration. The aim of the present work is to give an overview on fibronectin and on its involvement in the control of cell behavior providing evidence of its pivotal role in the control of cell adhesion, spreading, migration, proliferation and differentiation. A deep insight into methods to enrich biomaterials surface with fibronectin will be then discussed, as well as new cues on the possibility to design tailored platforms able to specifically retain fibronectin from the surrounding extracellular milieu

Aptamer-enriched scaffolds for tissue regeneration: a systematic review of the literature

Introduction: Aptamers are a brand-new class of receptors that can be exploited to improve the bioactivity of tissue engineering grafts. The aim of this work was to revise the current literature on in vitro and in vivo studies in order to i) identify current strategies adopted to improve scaffold bioactivity by aptamers; ii) assess effects of aptamer functionalization on cell behavior and iii) on tissue regeneration. Methods: Using a systematic search approach original research articles published up to 30 April 2022, were considered and screened. Results: In total, 131 records were identified and 18 were included in the final analysis. Included studies showed that aptamers can improve the bioactivity of biomaterials by specific adsorption of adhesive molecules or growth factors from the surrounding environment, or by capturing specific cell types. All the studies showed that aptamers ameliorate scaffold colonization by cells without modifying the physicochemical characteristics of the bare scaffold. Additionally, aptamers seem to promote the early stages of tissue healing and to promote anatomical and functional regeneration. Discussion: Although a metanalysis could not be performed due to the limited number of studies, we believe these findings provide solid evidence supporting the use of aptamers as a suitable modification to improve the bioactivity of tissue engineering constructs

Preparation of hybrid samples for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to focused ion beam (FIB) analysis: A new way to study cell adhesion to titanium implant surfaces

The study of the intimate connection occurring at the interface between cells and titanium implant surfaces is a major challenge for dental materials scientists. Indeed, several imaging techniques have been developed and optimized in the last decades, but an optimal method has not been described yet. The combination of the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with a focused ion beam (FIB), represents a pioneering and interesting tool to allow the investigation of the relationship occurring at the interface between cells and biomaterials, including titanium. However, major caveats concerning the nature of the biological structures, which are not conductive materials, and the physico-chemical properties of titanium (i.e. color, surface topography), require a fine and accurate preparation of the sample before its imaging. Hence, the aim of the present work is to provide a suitable protocol for cell-titanium sample preparation before imaging by SEM-FIB. The concepts presented in this paper are also transferrable to other fields of biomaterials research